(no subject)

* China's giving signals they may be softening on their pro-Assad stance. Fingers crossed.

* Remember how yesterday the Egyptian President made some moves to take back the government from the military? Looks like people are demonstrating in support of the President's strong move to protect Democracy. I'm still crossing my fingers that President Morsi won't go too far in taking control for himself and that he's serious about Constitutional government, but right now, it's still cautiously hopeful. I still need to see more in country Egyptian commentary, as what I've had time to look at hasn't been as diverse as I like.

* Somalia's on it's way to a set of Parliamentary elections. There's worry about corruption and continued trouble from al Shabaab, but if they can hold credible elections, it's a huge step towards putting the country back together.

* Yes, I'm aware of both the EU economic news and the Vatican scandal. I haven't the heart to dig into the former just yet, and I don't much care about the latter.

* On Paul Ryan's radical plan to criminalize the Pill and the IUD: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#48668855

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* On Paul Ryan's extremely radical plan to redistribute wealth to the very rich from everyone else and dramatically grow the deficit without any investment in the economy: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#48669141

( Embed: )

* Paul Ryan lying about his history of Objectivism:

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* I think the Romney/Paul campaign slogan should be, "I got mine, Jack!"

* RIP Ron Palillo, best known as Horshack, my favorate Sweathog when I was little. First Juan Epstein and now Horshack. Damn. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/15/arts/television/ron-palillo-horshack-on-welcome-back-kotter-dies-at-63.html

* "personal freedom roundup...:" http://psybelle.livejournal.com/776686.html

* I apologize for the size of the previous posting. Clearly, I should have put Archeology Roundup in it's own post at bare minimum, but by the time I figured that out, I was too tired to do it safely.

* I started watching Suits when it was new because it had Gina Torres in it. I stayed because I liked a bunch of characters and I like Trickster stories, despite the show being right on the edge of painful for me to watch. This season it was building up to being too hard for me to watch, and just before the Olympics started, it tipped too far into too unpleasant to watch, if no one's forcing me too. I think it may be time for a major purge of my presets, as there are several other things need to go. I have a couple things on the for sure get rid of. I'm on the bubble with White Collar (repetitive and not going anywhere, I'm mostly in it for Mozzie) and Covert Affairs (No Jai and tonight's episode was wandering into unpleasant to watch category. I'm mostly in it for Augie).

* "Thoughts on Writing #47: Different Strokes:" http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/461025.html

* Bisexual Obstacle course: http://lgbtlaughs.tumblr.com/post/26869697504/a-mock-turtle-federalists-are-you-really

(no subject)

* China's giving signals they may be softening on their pro-Assad stance. Fingers crossed.

* Remember how yesterday the Egyptian President made some moves to take back the government from the military? Looks like people are demonstrating in support of the President's strong move to protect Democracy. I'm still crossing my fingers that President Morsi won't go too far in taking control for himself and that he's serious about Constitutional government, but right now, it's still cautiously hopeful. I still need to see more in country Egyptian commentary, as what I've had time to look at hasn't been as diverse as I like.

* Somalia's on it's way to a set of Parliamentary elections. There's worry about corruption and continued trouble from al Shabaab, but if they can hold credible elections, it's a huge step towards putting the country back together.

* Yes, I'm aware of both the EU economic news and the Vatican scandal. I haven't the heart to dig into the former just yet, and I don't much care about the latter.

* On Paul Ryan's radical plan to criminalize the Pill and the IUD: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#48668855

( Embed: )

* On Paul Ryan's extremely radical plan to redistribute wealth to the very rich from everyone else and dramatically grow the deficit without any investment in the economy: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#48669141

( Embed: )

* Paul Ryan lying about his history of Objectivism:

( Embed: )

* I think the Romney/Paul campaign slogan should be, "I got mine, Jack!"

* RIP Ron Palillo, best known as Horshack, my favorate Sweathog when I was little. First Juan Epstein and now Horshack. Damn. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/15/arts/television/ron-palillo-horshack-on-welcome-back-kotter-dies-at-63.html

* "personal freedom roundup...:" http://psybelle.livejournal.com/776686.html

* I apologize for the size of the previous posting. Clearly, I should have put Archeology Roundup in it's own post at bare minimum, but by the time I figured that out, I was too tired to do it safely.

* I started watching Suits when it was new because it had Gina Torres in it. I stayed because I liked a bunch of characters and I like Trickster stories, despite the show being right on the edge of painful for me to watch. This season it was building up to being too hard for me to watch, and just before the Olympics started, it tipped too far into too unpleasant to watch, if no one's forcing me too. I think it may be time for a major purge of my presets, as there are several other things need to go. I have a couple things on the for sure get rid of. I'm on the bubble with White Collar (repetitive and not going anywhere, I'm mostly in it for Mozzie) and Covert Affairs (No Jai and tonight's episode was wandering into unpleasant to watch category. I'm mostly in it for Augie).

* "Thoughts on Writing #47: Different Strokes:" http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/461025.html

* Bisexual Obstacle course: http://lgbtlaughs.tumblr.com/post/26869697504/a-mock-turtle-federalists-are-you-really

(no subject)

* Looks like the Syrian Free Army blew up a security meeting, unfortunately rather close to the hotel where they keep the UN monitors. There is speculation that this means the Assad regime has less control of Damascus than they are claiming, given the tightness of the Security cordon in that area.

* The Iranian quakes on Saturday were both 6.3 in magnitude. Another 5.3 quake hit yesterday. They are still pulling people from the rubble. Relief supplies are reaching them, it sounds like, thanks to a great deal of generosity, mostly within country.

* 11% of the Canary Island of La Gomera is on fire or has already burned. Despite fire fighting planes sent by the Moroccans and valiant efforts by locals, it's still burning. There's a serious wildfire burning on Spanish mainland as well, with two already dead.

* There are now more than 70+ Wildfires burning across the West. They have lost nearly seventy homes in the Western Washington fire. They have less than 10% containment. The fires are so terrible because of the beetle infestation and the drought caused by climate change, but don't worry, weather reporters can be fired for mentioning that climate change is making the weather conditions worse so we can all pretend it's not happening, that is, unless it's our farms burning. Too bad. Meanwhile, the Coal interests are advertizing aggressively attacking the President and the EPA to try to increase burning and thus worsening the weather conditions leading to these disasters. After all, which is more important, slightly cheaper heat or the whole east of the state not burning? The slightly cheaper heat, of course. Meanwhile people are trying to rescue horses and herds and grab a few mementos as the fire closes in to take everything.

* The lines get longer and longer at food banks even as donations dry up this time of year. If you have to spare, I'm betting wherever you live they are desperate for money or food donations. (Money is best as they can use it to buy things like protein and perishables or to buy high demand toiletries. Best to inquire at your local food bank to see what they need. Now is also a good time to give money or blood to Red Cross/Red Crescent.

(no subject)

* Looks like the Syrian Free Army blew up a security meeting, unfortunately rather close to the hotel where they keep the UN monitors. There is speculation that this means the Assad regime has less control of Damascus than they are claiming, given the tightness of the Security cordon in that area.

* The Iranian quakes on Saturday were both 6.3 in magnitude. Another 5.3 quake hit yesterday. They are still pulling people from the rubble. Relief supplies are reaching them, it sounds like, thanks to a great deal of generosity, mostly within country.

* 11% of the Canary Island of La Gomera is on fire or has already burned. Despite fire fighting planes sent by the Moroccans and valiant efforts by locals, it's still burning. There's a serious wildfire burning on Spanish mainland as well, with two already dead.

* There are now more than 70+ Wildfires burning across the West. They have lost nearly seventy homes in the Western Washington fire. They have less than 10% containment. The fires are so terrible because of the beetle infestation and the drought caused by climate change, but don't worry, weather reporters can be fired for mentioning that climate change is making the weather conditions worse so we can all pretend it's not happening, that is, unless it's our farms burning. Too bad. Meanwhile, the Coal interests are advertizing aggressively attacking the President and the EPA to try to increase burning and thus worsening the weather conditions leading to these disasters. After all, which is more important, slightly cheaper heat or the whole east of the state not burning? The slightly cheaper heat, of course. Meanwhile people are trying to rescue horses and herds and grab a few mementos as the fire closes in to take everything.

* The lines get longer and longer at food banks even as donations dry up this time of year. If you have to spare, I'm betting wherever you live they are desperate for money or food donations. (Money is best as they can use it to buy things like protein and perishables or to buy high demand toiletries. Best to inquire at your local food bank to see what they need. Now is also a good time to give money or blood to Red Cross/Red Crescent.